...Japan...

...we visited a few years ago.  We have a friend that was living in Japan and was moving back to the states soon.  My high school french can get us through most european countries, but Japan is a whole other thing! Having a fluent speaker, who knew their way around, made the trip more personal and interactive with the culture.

started the trip with yakitori, Japan's version of bar food

when our friend wasn't with us yet, we tried REALLY hard not the get lost, didn't always work

tuna bowls at 7am, freshly caught

they have trees... who would have thought?!

shopping was amazing!

tried out the latest exercises, I think I will stick to SoulCycle

some of the food was a little out of my comfort zone

though it was over 90 degrees everyday, we had lots of ramen

after a few days, McDonald's was a welcome sight

ice cream is a must for Japan in the summer!

beautiful gardens were everywhere

we later drove on that volcano in the background!

really nice beaches

it was a wonderful and unforgettable trip!

Happy #TBT

...walks...

... I am always a little hesitant to go on walks, but once I'm out the door, I love it!

This week has been great, and to keep my spirits high, I have been going on daily walks.  Darren, our small Pomeranian, keeps me company.  He always loves a walk.

...books...

...I love reading.

A big change from when I was a little kid (I was a notoriously bad speller and hated reading as it took me forever to get through a page).

Later in my teens, I loved reading anything moody, as all teenagers do.  And then as most of the female population did; I picked up Twilight and became obsessed.  Embarrassingly, I must admit it is the only book that I have ever reread (the whole series four times, please don't judge).

Now reading has become the ultimate escape and stress reliever.

I am lucky enough to be one of those people that can pick up and drop a book at anytime, only to pick it back up months later.  Dan Brown books for example, short of being on a plane for ten plus hours, normally take me about two or three years to make it all the way through.  A young-adult fiction, on the other hand, will take me about two days and I will most likely refuse to talk to my husband, eat, or sleep until I am done.  (Again, please don't judge!  I know that at least some of you have read Harry Potter, Twilight, or Hunger Games!)

{reading Inferno by Dan Brown, while driving around a volcano in Kagoshima, Japan}

The format that I like the most for very involved books, aka anything in the Dan Brown category, I need in paper.  There is nothing worse on a electronic reader, than just wanting to quickly double check a name or location, and it taking longer for you to find your way back to your last page.

Electronic readers, I find best for quick reads...think those young-adult novels.  I have a Kindle, and I use the Kindle app on my phone for on-the-go reading.

So if you need a few recommendation for the upcoming summer, see below.

All-time Favorites (The books that I wish I could read for the first time again)

The Martian by Andy Weir 
Runaway Princess by Hester Browne
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

Quick Reads

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
The Selection by Kiera Cass

Beach Reads

Swept off Her Feet by Hester Browne
The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

I am always on the lookout for my next book.  I would love to hear your recommendations!

...beer tasting...

...what goes best with chili?  Beer!

Before it got too hot for chili, we had one last chili-weekend.

We like to experiment with different kinds of beer in our chili and to drink alongside.  As Sunday came around, we were left with quite a random assortment of beer.  Best way to get through beer?  A beer tasting on the roof, of course!

So we headed up to the roof of our building, where we were met with some great views and the American's Cup (an international sailing race), little to our knowledge.  Though our view was limited, it was a great conclusion to our weekend!

Ballast Point - Calico, Amber Ale

• Tasting Notes - hoppy, less caramel/honey than expected, heavy

Coney Island - Hard Orange Cream Ale

• Tasting Notes - honestly tasted like orange cream soda, mildly sweet, hints of vanilla 

Ommegang - Gnomegang, Blonde Ale

• Tasting Notes - bittersweet, nutty, filling

Coney Island - Hard Root Beer

• Tasting Notes - tasted exactly like root beer, a perfect beer for the not-so-into-beer drinker

Weihenstephaner - Hefeweissbier Dunkel

• Tasting Notes - oldest brewery (1040 A.D.), wheaty, sweet start with a tangy finish

Guinness - Stout

• Tasting Notes - creamy, smooth, malty 

Hubby's Pick - Weihenstephaner - Hefeweissbier Dunkel

My Pick - Coney Island - Hard Orange Cream Ale (though my all time favorite is Guinness)

Over all it was a fun afternoon of cards, boats, and beer.

Happy Monday!

...splurge or save...

...sneakers.

I was never a huge fan of sneakers.  They were something I had to wear because of whatever activity I was taking part in.  But a few years ago, I really started finding them stylish and practical.  (My back though, is a HUGE fan of sneakers!)

My two go-to brands are not splurges, though not the least expensive on the market.  I lean toward trendy, but honestly I find that putting a little more money behind sneakers saves on the body later.

The well-curated collection of New Balance at J.Crew takes the guesswork out of on-trend colors.
*My favorite for traveling and long walks - $75.00

Stan Smiths are simple with their white body but add a little fun to the back with a pop of color!
*My favorite for brunch and errand runs - $74.95

Have a great weekend!

...Birkenstock...

...I know what you are thinking... you're parents and older siblings had them, and they might not be the most attractive of all footwear, but there is something about Birkenstock Sandals that keeps them popping up every 20 years.

My first encounter with Birkenstocks was when my best friend in college wore them as basic dorm-shoes.
A few years later, J. Crew started caring them in trendy cool colors, and it was at this point that I gave them a try, sans the socks.  Now I am the proud owner of two pairs of Birkenstock Arizona Sandals.

Happy #TBT!

...flowers...

...the simplest things can help make any dreary week, like this rainy one, a little less blah.

This week it was the lovely blooming flowers from our weekend walk around TriBeCa, and the wild flowers my husband brought home as a surprise, that made the week a little less gloomy.

What gets you through a dreary week?

...bathroom refresher...

...every now and then a room in our apartment needs a little refresher.

There is something about buying a new shower curtain, that sparks a need in me to revamp the WHOLE bathroom.  A little while ago, I went on a trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond to get just a few things.  What came of that quick trip, was the below, a whole new bathroom.

DKNY Streetscape Bathroom Collection

...Raffetto's...

...there is nothing better than homemade pasta...

But when we are not feeling up for making it ourselves, we leave it to the experts at Raffetto's.

They make a wide selection of fresh pasta every day!  You get to pick which flavor and thickness you want, as you watch them cut it for you right there, on their old-school pasta cutting machine.

Our most recent selection was Parsley Basil, cut to be Fettuccine.  When we got home it was a quick cook for the noodles, till they reached the perfect al dente.  Once in the bowl, we added some salt, pepper, olive oil, and ricotta cheese.  The pasta already being so flavorful, no sauce was needed.